I am always in awe of adventurous people – those mountain climbers, those deep sea divers, people who ride or drive across continents… At first, I think, my own lack of adventure makes me look up to them even more. But thinking about this more deeply I start to say to myself, “You have been adventurous. Just differently”. So perhaps, daring greatly is not just about adventure sports? I would go so far as to offer you the argument that some of the greatest athletes or adventurers may in fact not be daring at all!
Daring Greatly Is Not Just About Adventure Sports
I’ve always led a sheltered life. Protected from all physical harm and not really encouraged to be adventurous. I’m a big wuss when it comes to adventure and adventure sports. But I would never call myself a coward. No, I don’t mean to boast, but I’ve always been one to dare greatly.
Byron Katie calls it ‘The Work’ and Scott Peck wrote about ‘The Road Less Travelled’. Both of these books and Brené Brown’s ‘Daring Greatly’ and of course, The Artist’s Way are just some of the books that have encouraged me to travel deep within myself. To bring out into the open parts of me that I’ve hidden. Parts of me that I’m ashamed of. They have made me work towards being more authentic. Towards making myself vulnerable. They have forced me to take very difficult decisions. To stand up and speak out at the risk of being unpopular. To move away from toxic relationships even when these are conventionally the relationships I should have.
I have had the audacity to hope that love and trust will win the day. Click To TweetMost of all I have had the audacity to hope that love and trust will win the day. I have dared to love time and again, at the risk of getting hurt. And I have dared to trust people even when I am tempted to be cynical. I have dared to forgive and move on and yet I have not settled for shallow relationships and band-aid peace.
I have not settled for shallow relationships and band-aid peace.Click To TweetI still have a long journey to make inward, but I know I’m on the right path.
A sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within. – Eudora Welty
#FridayReflections
Friday Reflections is a link up hosted by Shalini at KohlEyed Me and me, Corinne at Everyday Gyaan. We invite you to join us every Friday to share a good cup of tea and your reflections based on the prompts we provide.
Here’s how #FridayReflections works:
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- Write a post using one of the prompts for the week provided below.
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Prompts for 25th May 2018
1. The most difficult letter to write.
2. A sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within. – Eudora Welty
3. Picture prompt (via Corinne Rodrigues)
Image Credits: Shutterstock
Oh, Corinne. I so loved your words on love and trust. I just had to read this today. Thank you.
This was beautiful to read first thing in the morning. Can I dare to say I see myself in those words and lines? I love the quote about sheltered life.
Thank you, Corinne. I love the thought that although, like you, I am a wuss in some areas, I have indeed dared greatly in my life. Thankful Thursday Week 21 and make your post actionable.
This post resonated with me. Being vulnerable also requires an element of daring.
I agree with your views, Corinne. I’m a big wuss too, especially when it comes to things like physical pain {even getting an injection or having to give a blood sample scares me}. My courage is of the inward/spiritual/soulful variety. The one that makes me examine my shadows, set my boundaries, and do the work to go after what I want to want to achieve.
Daring is all relative. Letting go of toxic relationships, I think, is quite daring – daring to love “time and again” is daring, too. I’ve done some daring things in my life – marrying outside my religious faith perhaps one of the most daring things (back when I did it, in the 1970’s). Yet, I’m not into adventure sports, either. Watch the quiet people!
Thats so true. A person living a sheltered life need not be a coward and cold be as daring as anyone else out there. Its an attitude one develops and this is the attitude we adapt when we face a situation in life. Its comes from within.
I so agree, Corinne. Living life needs daring, what with all the uncertainties Life throws at us, isn’t it?
Oh, yes, Shilpa. Your recent experience was an exercise in courage, alright!